This article was originally posted on 10-07-2017

Water Quality, Organics Recycling - Legislative Update

Dear Neighbors,

As we get into the swing of fall, many of us are raking leaves, cleaning up our yards, and enjoying the last weeks of warm weather before winter arrives. With the environment and great outdoors in mind, I am sharing an update on the Governor’s Water Quality town hall which will be tomorrow in Burnsville, and info on a new organics recycling drop-off that Dakota County recently announced.

WATER QUALITY MEETINGS
Governor Mark Dayton is hosting a series of Water Quality Town Hall meetings this summer and fall. The Town Hall meeting will offer an opportunity to discuss the water quality challenges facing our community and our state, learn from experts, and engage with policymakers. The Town Hall meetings build on the momentum from Governor Dayton’s “25 by 25” Water Quality goal proposal, announced earlier this year.

The Town Hall meetings will be attended by key members of Governor Dayton’s Cabinet who want to hear from Minnesotans about ways to improve the state’s water quality at the local level.

These Town Hall meetings are free to attend and open to the public. The meeting will run from 6:30-8:30pm with registration beginning at 5:30pm. No advance registration is necessary. A complete list of dates and locations is available online.

Burnsville Water Quality Town Hall meeting took place on October 4, 2017.

PROJECTS FOR CLEAN WATER
In late September, Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District showed us some of the projects that have been done in the county to help with water quality. One was streambank stabilization on a stream very near the Fairgrounds. As it happens, this stream does have good-sized trout in it.

We also visited a homeowner who has put in a raingarden in her front yard as well as some other conservation projects in the back yard that is on a lake. It is great to see individuals taking responsibility to improve water quality. We looked at a church that put a raingarden on the front of its property to help with water quality.

The Minnesota Zoo has a number of projects on its property to mitigate storm water runoff.

It is exciting to see so many projects that will help us in our quest for good water quality. Clean water is essential for life!

Our last stop was at the prairie restoration area on the Fairgrounds where the annual Outdoor Education Days for 5th graders was taking place. There are sites set up where the students can learn about water quality, native plants, and so on. Adults learn a lot, too.

DAKOTA COUNTY ORGANICS RECYCLING
There is now an additional organics recycling drop off site starting November 3rd in Lebanon Hills at the Holland Lake Trailhead (1100 Cliff Road, Eagan). This is a great way to reduce how much trash your household sends to landfills and can help save money if it helps you qualify for a cheaper trash hauling service.

This is a great opportunity for anyone who is interested in organics recycling. To sign up call 952-891-7557 or email organics@co.dakota.mn.us.

For anyone who is unfamiliar, about 1/3 of what is thrown away in landfills is organic and can be recycled into compost which is a nutrient-rich soil additive. Dakota County’s organics recycling program uses a commercial facility which allows people to recycle meat, dairy, fruit, and vegetables. Here is a list of some of the accepted and not accepted items.

ACCEPTED

• All food, food scraps, peels, pits, etc.
  
• Coffee grounds, filters and teabags
  
• Paper towels, napkins and tissues
  
• Paper towel and toilet paper rolls
  
• Paper egg cartons
  
• Certified compostable products: Items with the BPI or Cedar Grove certified compostable logo on the product or packaging
  
• Hair and fur
  
• Popsicle sticks and toothpicks
  
• Houseplant trimmings and flowers

NOT ACCEPTED

• Yard waste
  
• Plastic bags
  
• Pet waste, litter, or bedding
  
• Fast food wrappers
  
• Frozen food boxes
  
• Microwave popcorn bags
  
• Paper plates, bowls and cups without BPI or Cedar Grove certification
  
• Single-serve coffee pods (example K-Cups)

Dakota County is also hosting free training sessions for anyone who wants more details before signing up. Here are the times and locations of the training sessions which are about 45 minutes long:

• Tuesday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m., Discovery Room at Lebanon Hills Visitor Center, 860 Cliff Road, Eagan
  
• Saturday, Oct. 21, 11 a.m., Wescott Library, 1340 Wescott Road, Eagan
  
• Saturday, Oct. 28, 1:30 p.m., Wescott Library, 1340 Wescott Road, Eagan

If you would like to attend the training session you need to reserve a spot by clicking here.

If you have any questions contact the Dakota County by call 952-891-7557 or email organics@co.dakota.mn.us.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Sandra Masin
State Representative
 

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